A Mach 4 jet engine under development could help China leapfrog the US in the global military aircraft race.
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| China unveils AI-powered Mach 4 jet engine. (Source: Propulsion Technology) |
Scientists at the Taihang National Laboratory, a leading aerospace engine research institute in Southwest China, have completed ground testing of a turbine engine that integrates advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology, allowing it to operate efficiently and stably at speeds up to Mach 4.
In an article published in Propulsion Technology magazine on January 16, research team leader Ji Chunsheng said that this engine meets the military's requirement for "100% supply chain localization."
The Taihang National Laboratory, known for its innovative work on engines that power advanced fighter jets like the J-20, is at the forefront of China's aerospace technological advances.
This is the first official confirmation of the existence of a Chinese high-speed military aircraft project, which aimed to build a faster, more advanced aircraft than the legendary US SR-71 Blackbird. The Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft could reach speeds of Mach 3.3 but was discontinued in 1999 due to high operating costs.
The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird,” designed in secret in the late 1950s, could fly near the edge of space and faster than a missile. The SR-71 was part of a family of spy planes designed to venture into enemy airspace without being shot down or detected in an era before satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
By 1976, the SR-71 still held records: flying at a sustained altitude of 85,069 feet, reaching a top speed of 2,193.2 miles per hour, equivalent to Mach 3.3. The program was discontinued in 1990 as technologies such as spy satellites and UAVs became more feasible, providing instant access to surveillance data.
The SR-71 "Black Bird" was last flown by NASA in 1999. The surviving aircraft were all put in museums.
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